If you're ever nervous about going after a particularly risky opportunity (maybe starting your own business, climbing Mount Everest, or just pitching a new idea to your boss), remember this advice from a movie stuntman, someone who puts himself at risk regularly: Mentally rehearse until you see the situation perfectly.

Darrin Prescott, who has coordinated and performed stunts in commercials and movies such as Moneyball, Drive, and Gone, says he pictures the entire scenario in fine detail at least 20 times from beginning to end.

Visualization is nothing new, of course, but one key part of Prescott's preparation, which can take anywhere from minutes to hours on end (imagining himself jumping off a building or setting cars on fire) is this:

Each time, I imagine it going perfectly. If negative thoughts creep in, I push them out of my head and start over again.

In his mental rehearsals, there's no room for error, and given his line of work, that makes total sense. If what you're pursuing is very important to you too, reboot your visualization every time a negative thought creeps in. You'll likely find yourself bolder and more confident—like you've done this a dozen times before.